Chapter 30

           MeanwhileVassilyLukitchhadnotatfirstunderstoodwhothisladywas,andhadlearnedfromtheirconversationthatitwasnootherpersonthanthemotherwhohadleftherhusband,andwhomhehadnotseen,ashehadenteredthehouseafterherdeparture.Hewasindoubtwhethertogoinornot,orwhethertocommunicatewithAlexeyAlexandrovitch.ReflectingfinallythathisdutywastogetSeryozhaupatthehourfixed,andthatitwasthereforenothisbusinesstoconsiderwhowasthere,themotheroranyoneelse,butsimplytodohisduty,hefinisheddressing,wenttothedoorandopenedit.

           Buttheembracesofthemotherandchild,thesoundoftheirvoices,andwhattheyweresaying,madehimchangehismind.

           Heshookhishead,andwithasighheclosedthedoor.“I’llwaitanothertenminutes,”hesaidtohimself,clearinghisthroatandwipingawaytears.

           Amongtheservantsofthehouseholdtherewasintenseexcitementallthistime.Allhadheardthattheirmistresshadcome,andthatKapitonitchhadletherin,andthatshewasevennowinthenursery,andthattheirmasteralwayswentinpersontothenurseryatnineo’clock,andeveryonefullycomprehendedthatitwasimpossibleforthehusbandandwifetomeet,andthattheymustpreventit.Korney,thevalet,goingdowntothehall-porter’sroom,askedwhohadletherin,andhowitwashehaddoneso,andascertainingthatKapitonitchhadadmittedherandshownherup,hegavetheoldmanatalking-to.